October 27, 2025 – Charlotte County, FL
A violent fugitive who has been on Charlotte County’s “Most Wanted” list for over three years was tracked down and arrested while hiding out in Oregon.
Steven Charles Whitney (03/16/1978) has three active felony warrants in Charlotte County, Florida with one of those warrants stemming from an incident in which he chased and shot at teenagers in Punta Gorda in 2022. Whitney then fled the state, skipping his court appointment. Over the past three years, he has evaded law enforcement, utilizing fake IDs and even changing the license plates on his vehicles to avoid detection from LPR (License Plate Reader) systems.
Steven C. Whitney (03/16/1978)
The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Apprehension Unit continued to search for Whitney, finally learning through investigation that he was hiding out in Eugene, Oregon. CCSO made contact with the Eugene Police Department, who were able to positively confirm Steven Whitney was in their jurisdiction. Additionally, they were able to identify Whitney as the suspect in an armed robbery case of their own, thanks to the information provided by CCSO. EPD was able to obtain an arrest warrant for the suspect and search warrant for the residence he has staying in. When they attempted to serve the warrants, Whitney barricaded himself inside the home. Hours later, with no other alternatives, Whitney surrendered to law enforcement. The search warrant was executed and detectives located several of Whitney’s fake IDs, 15 pounds of marijuana, psilocybin mushrooms, and multiple firearms. Whitney was arrested on a multitude of new felony charges by EPD and will be extradited back to Charlotte County following the conclusion of those charges, which could be several years from now depending on the outcomes.
“This individual has been ducking law enforcement for far too long, and now his luck has finally run out. I want to recognize my team for their diligence, locating him more than 3,000 miles away. It proves that if you commit a violent crime in Charlotte County, we will not stop until we find you and hold you accountable, no matter where you hide. Thank you to our brothers in blue in Eugene, Oregon for helping to get this dangerous criminal back behind bars where he belongs.“
Sheriff Bill Prummell
Whitney’s charges in Charlotte County include:
Failure to appear (x2)
Violation of pre-trial release (aggravated assault with a deadly weapon x3)
Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
Fleeing to elude
Resisting arrest
Driving with suspended/revoked license
DUI (3rd offense)
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Published by Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office